BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Ebonyi State, says it has handed over a 13-year-old girl (names withheld) from Ibiam Inyimagu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, who was rescued from traffickers in Burkina Faso, to her family.
The Commissioner, Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, Chinwe Okah, explained that the victim ran to a Burkina Faso police station when the traffickers attempted to force her into prostitution.
Okah said, “We got a call from the Burkina Faso police, last month, saying that one of our daughters is in their custody that she escaped from people who lured her there for prostitution. So, discussion went on and here she is back to Nigeria, Ebonyi State, Ikwo Local Government Area to be precise in good health. We give God all the glory. We have handed her over to the chairman of the local government, represented by the vice chairman of the council for proper care. She will be, in turn, handed over to her mother.
“Meanwhile, search/ investigation is in high gear to apprehend the woman who took her from Ikwo to Burkina Faso in the guise of being her nanny. When apprehended, she will be made to face the full weight of the law.”
The local government chairman, Stephen Orogwu, represented at the handing over by Luisa Nweke, thanked the Commissioner and the Burkina Faso Police for the job well done and pledged to take good care of the girl.
Orogwu, however, warned parents to give birth to the number of children that they can comfortably cater for irrespective of the deteriorating nature of the Nigerian economy.
Stella Aleke, mother of the rescued girl, lauded the government as well as the security agents for reuniting her with her daughter. She said that she allowed her daughter to travel with the trafficker in a bid to reduce the burden of taking care of her six children as a widow unaware of the woman’s ulterior intentions.
